The March/April issue of Healthy CNY

I can be mean to my husband.
There are mornings - mostly weekdays - when I'm a whirling dervish of pouring orange juice, packing the kids' lunches and pulling homework out of the dog's mouth.

Then there's my husband. All slow moving and yawning - a mug of coffee in one hand, the paper in the other. And in the way.

I don't say anything. Instead, before I can stop myself, I do something mean. I flick my hand at him. Like a flipper on a pin ball machine.

I can't help it.

When he's seated safely at the breakfast bar with the The Post-Standard opened to Sports, he says simply, "You need to slow down."

I hate to admit it, but he's right.

For most of us, going slow isn't easy, and that's too bad. A 2001 study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology showed that doing one thing at a time, as opposed to multitasking, helped people focus, make fewer mistakes and accomplish more. According to naturalhealthmag.com, studies also show that "slow" activites like tai chi, gardening and knitting can lower stress levels and blood pressure.

Maybe I'll just take my sweet time.

To help you slow down, our Wellness department features easy tai chi exercise to try, Editor's Picks savors the spring with a refreshing herb salad and a rise and shine exercise.

In other departments, writer Michelle Maciejewski tries a fresh form of yoga at O Yoga Studio in Armory Square. In Food, Jean Downs, R.D., serves up a comforting chicken noodle soup and Linda Quinn, R.D., talks about local produce from the hoop house. On a more serious note, Shrink Rap columnist Susan Hartman Brenizer explains how to spot the signs of a potentially abusive relationship. Also in the March/April issue, Retail Therapy features a healthy buzz of spring fever from CNY shops and Shorts offers health studies to delight and surprise you.

I hope this issue enlightens - and gives you a reason to slow down. Read it standing up.